The split between Rio Tinto and its 86%-owned subsidiary Energy Resources of Australia over the costs and progress of their rehabilitation of the Ranger uranium project in the NT has widened, with a call on ERA chairman Peter Mansell to resign.
Rio says a board renewal, starting with Mansell's departure, is needed to bring new perspectives to the giant task of restoring the environmentally sensitive site from the impacts of nearly 40 years of mining.
The parent company is also taking a stand on suggestions of more mining in the area, against the wishes of its native titleholders.